Avante Garden

If you, like me, have sensitive skin, this is the range for you. So I do have sensitive skin sometimes... ok, all the time, and I wish I could just use any old moisturiser, but I can't.

I recently saw a friend of mine who actually washes her face with a bar of soap. Not fancy soap neither. Just ordinary soap that probably costs less than £1. If I did that, my face would shrivel up like a prune.
So I take care. I have danced around the Darphin range for a while because I love the scents, ingredients, colours of the products. I finally tried Intral and it's the most delicious range. 

The Redness Relief Soothing Serum is a veil of calm for angry skin. Chamomile soothes and beautiful-sounding peony extracts protect. The Soothing Cream is a cacooning shield with Orchid extract and vitamin E to repair any damage.

You will find similarly beautiful ingredients in all of Darphin's products. Plus, they will single-handedly raise your bathroom beauty credentials. Must must must have.
 
Darphin, Intral Redness Relief Soothing Serum, £47.00
Darphin, Intral Soothing Cream, £37.00

The WOW-BROW

This January, I am sporting a 'wow-brow'. That means minimal makeup. A clean complexion. And accentuated brows. It's a look I have been wanting to try ever since Alexander Wang's models were spotted on the catwalks with flicked, heavy brows. Mine is of course a low-maintenance version. 

New CID's brow pencil is one of the best I've tried. Great colour, great blendability and THE best eyebrow comb. 

Even out your complexion with a creamy concealer. It's great for the laid-back, back-to-basics, low-yet-high-maintenance look. Trust me.

New CID i - conceal Brush on Fluid Concealer, £19.00

NEW CID i - groom, Eyebrow Grooming Pencil and Brush, £15.50

Tee-Total Dee-Tox

So they say that in January, resolutions are made and by February they are usually broken. I have decided I am not going to make any drastic promises to myself. It's the little things that count. My three resolutions are as follows:

- MOISTURISE: John Masters Organics range is one to watch this year. The Rose and Apricot Antioxidant Day Creme provides a nifty boost of antioxidants for the skin. The omega-6 will protect skin against harmful bacteria. Just the ticket for any city dweller.

- PROTECT: Although I am a total convert to Imedeen supplements, I am not regimented enough for any more supplements. However, for a flash of antioxidants, Perricone MD's Super Berry Powder with Acai is a super-strong concoction. My tip is to drink with fruit juice rather than water. A portion of fruit and better taste. Win win.

- TREAT: I must admit: I am a total face mask addict. It's a fact. However, I don't remember trying something so radically different as Malin+Goetz's Detox Face Mask. It feels like a super-creamy shaving foam (unusual, I know) but your thirsty skin will thank you for it. It will clean pores, moisturise and heal skin all in one. It is literally a detox for your skin. Investment time.

I think three new commandments should be manageable. And if they are, thou shalt be beautiful. 

John Masters Organics, Rose and Apricot Antioxidant Day Creme, £25.00
Perricone MD Super Berry Powder with Acai, £41.00
Malin+Goetz Detox Face Mask, £29.00

Russian Wonders

On my beauty adventures to local markets in Russia, I couldn’t help but reminisce about the lotions and potions from Communist days gone by. To my surprise, a lot of the classic brands were still on sale! The creams for feet, hands, face and ointments are sold in metal tubes, like old-fashioned toothpaste and are actually surprisingly good. I used to swear by a greasy cream that smelt like flowers, but was the only thing that soothed my dry skin.

But, rather interestingly, apart from the Garniers and the Loreals that dominate the beauty market no matter where you are in the world, Russia has some of its own beauty brands on the rise. I noticed Natura Siberica, which is an organic beauty brand made with Russian plants from Siberia. Natural and not expensive (£2 for a face-wash), I decided to try it. And love it I did. The only thing that stopped me from buying and trying the entire collection was luggage restriction. 

http://www.naturasiberica.ru/ 

 

Back From Russia, With Love

Phew! What a winter holiday that was. Russia on average was -15 and I experienced no less than five skin (and non-beauty related) emergencies. First my skin was totally flaking to shreds. Then my lips developed a crust thicker than the lunar surface. Finally, I diagnosed myself with the worst hat-hair I have ever seen, having to practically wear my hat even indoors.

However, I did start as I meant to go on. On the plane there, I armed myself with Caudalie's Eau de Beaute Elixir spray, trying desperately to keep my skin hydrated. I also always save up my sample sachets so that I can travel light on the plane. Finally, I was taming my hair with a comb-come bottle opener (from my grandmother's communist days. The Russians know you always need good hair and drink in-hand).

In Russia, I decided to try a new routine altogether. I had Rodial's Glamtox Serum. It is a beautiful texture, almost like a light oil, which helped to improve my skin tone in the harsh temperature changes. This was followed by Aromatherapy Associates Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser, with the power of three different roses: Moroccan, Turkish and Bulgarian. Roses (after diamonds) are a girl's best friend. And you can never have too many.

I am glad to be back on less snowy shores and my skin can't thank me enough.

Caudalie's Eau de Beaute Elixir, £32.00
Aromatherapy Associates Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser, £49.00
Rodial's Glamtox Serum, £60.00
 

A Russian Winter

Beauty Mole will be travelling to Russia for Christmas and New Year! I am however trialling some amazing new products and will report back in January. The conditions are perfect. Sun, snow and wind chill factor.

An English Garden

Second only to roses is my love of lavender. It's an obsession, which to be honest is a little bit out of control (and one that is well-documented). It's the first essential oil that I ever bought and for that it will always have a special place in my heart. Plus, the sheer versatility of this plant is almost second to none.

At the moment, I am loving Omorovicza's Gentle Buffing Cleanser, which along with Pineapple and Rosemary extracts sloughs away dead skin. But the scent of this wonder is of deep and calming lavender.

The genius that is John Masters Organics actually fused together two of my favourite things in the world: sea salt spray for hair with a scent of lavender. Hair is left with a lingering perfume of lavender and a natural beach-babe wave.

Sue Devitt's eye pencils are little miracle workers. This colour, Victoria Falls, is a gorgeous violet blue and will make any eye colour pop. I even got a compliment from my boyfriend on that one. Smudge during the day and intensify with pure pigment for evening.

Knackered Cow, with lavender, by Cowshed is my herbaceous bathroom staple. And for my morning shower, Mitchell and Peach wake me up. Made with English Lavender, Violet and Ylang-Ylang essential oils that have been matured over nine months, it is an English garden in a bottle. Heaven. 

Omorovicza Gentle Buffing Cleanser, £42.00
Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash, £20.00
Sue Devitt, Eye Intensifier Pencil, £17.50
Cowshed Room Fragrance, £22.00